The “Ebony Village:  A Winter Wonderland & Black Santa Extravaganza

Our annual Christmas and Kwanzaa exhibit is the Museum’s ultimate expression of Black joy. Scores of Christmas angels, elves, choristers and nutcrackers join hundreds of Black Santa’s in elegant, whimsical and merry displays.

Black Panthers:

The Movie & The  Movement

Wakanda forever! 

Black Panther: The Movie & The Movement

The 1960s.  Black Americans all over the country were beginning to embrace new forms of pride and protest, a white man named Stan Lee created a Black   super hero to join his comic book universe. Trace the history of Black heroes, real and imagined, in this exhibit which originally opened in 2018 alongside the Ryan Coogler blockbuster film.

V.I.B.E Vision In Black Excellence

Celebrating 40th Birthday Black Barbie

Citizen You

Immigration & Citizenship

Plantation to Platinum

The first Africans that arrived aboard a slave ship and sold in Jamestown came from several regions of Africa’s west coast.  Arriving on plantations they were forbidden to speak in their own native language, worship, or even praise their own god. The universal language of music was used to communicate in a call and response tradition to express their grief and pain.

However, slaves like “Massa’s Servants (TM)  who were introduced to and accepted Christianity were encouraged to attend religious services. They often held secret religious services so they could freely express themselves.  They wrote spirituals of praise and hope, escape & freedom and many carried dual meanings and symbolic messages unknown to slave owners. The lyrics of “Steal Away” alerted slaves that a religious meeting would occur that night; slaves would sing the song all day until they notified everyone.  It’s reported that Harriet Tubman  underground railroad conductor used the spirituals “Wade in the Water” and “Deep River” to warn slaves to travel in the water to throw off their scent from the bloodhounds

Color of Courage:

This exhibit honors and pays tribute to those men and women who made the courageous decision to serve and protect at home and abroad. Through a display of 100 G.I Joe action figures, dolls, documents, uniforms, and an array of photographs it provides a glimpse into the lives of Americans who served in the military from WWI through the gang wars on the streets in the City of Boston. A thought-provoking exhibit to provide a platform and bring awareness to the contributions African Americans have made as “peacekeepers” throughout history.

Mammies, Music & The Movement

The era was 1960, the climate of the country was turbulent , and Black people were passionate  about obtaining  their  civil rights . Dr. Martin Luther King Jr  challenged that people be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. Artists through their music  encouraged people to “Stand” Sly Stone or “Say it Loud “ James Brown . Still activists were  protesting change  from voting rights to the removal of sale of little Black Sambo  to “golliwogs’  it was all about passion.

This exhibit  looks at books, dolls, records and takes an artistic approach to  examine

Harmonious Traditions

Harmonious Traditions is an exhibit that encompasses a collection of 25 bridal dolls,
doll houses, and accessories intertwined with 25 traditions from several tribes and countries of Africa. In addition there are stories, photos, and keepsakes of traditions from the ceremonies of 8 real couples. Combined, these couples encompass 241years of marital bliss.

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African American Inventors

FOOTPRINTS: African Americans in transportation.

This collection was assembled to document specific social events, important concepts, and historical moments in the history of the contributions of AA in Transportation. Each Stand up doll tells a part of the story of this unique history. The images are grouped chronologically and are representative of each period. We welcome all to experience this  exhibit in memory of this important part of African-American history

July 2013